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Humane Society rescues 97 animals from Damascus home

An Oregon Humane Society Rescue team today seized 95 cats and two dogs from a Damascus home that had been under investigation for more than a year on suspicion of animal neglect.

Humane Society officers and officers from the Damascus police and the Clackamas County sheriff's office served a search warrant at the home on Southeast Foster Road just before noon Tuesday. A Humane Society officer had visited the house a number of times, according to a group spokesman, and saw evidence of neglect both inside and outside the home, including injured and malnourished animals.

"The evidence strongly indicated that this was a potential cat hoarding case," said Kris Otterman, the Humane Society's director of shelter medicine.

The pets were taken to the Humane Society headquarters in Northeast Portland for medical care. They are considered evidence in a possible criminal case and will not be available for adoption.